JAMIE Kerr, vice-chairman of the Renfrewshire South local party believes Labour could fight more effectively for social justice in an independent Scotland.

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Jamie Kerr, vice-chairman of the Renfrewshire South local party and a former Holyrood candidate, said: “The party has taken a strident No line without discussion and it’s hard to speak out against that.

“But I’ve made my decision to be open about it.”

Kerr said the rise of UKIP down south, and his belief that Labour could fight more effectively for social justice in an independent Scotland, had convinced him to join the Yes camp.

He said: “At the moment Labour listens to the south-east, which means we can’t be as radical as we’d like.”

Yes campaigners have tried hard to attract Labour figures. Kerr is a prize for them, since he helps run the constituencies of leading No campaign figures Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy.